Andragogy

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Andragogy

Andragogy is a term for the practice of adult education. There are several generalized connotations from the term itself, but the context that seems to be the most relevant is its contrast from pedagogy. When a student transcends adolescence by gaining new experience and motivations their learning methodologies must change with them. This is especially important and applicable given the emerging technology-empowered education opportunities available now and in the near future.

Since it is related, and likely something that every student has personal experience with, it is important to understand the fundamentals of pedagogy before defining and exploring andragogy. These principles include the sequential development of the mental processes that allow a student to recognize, recall, evaluate, contrast, apply, create, understand, and evaluate gained knowledge (Multiple Unknown, Pedagogy, 2012). The Instructional Theory’s three general theoretical stances: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism essentially summarize these critical skill sets (Multiple Unknown, Instructional Learning Theory, 2012).

Behaviorism is the act of learning in response to acquisition and stimuli. This learning methodology originates with Aristotle whose essay "Memory" focused on associations made by the mind during events such as lightning and thunder (Mergel, 1998). In education, Behaviorism effectively embraces a quid pro quo system in the classrooms by rewarding desired behaviors and discouraging inappropriate ones (Kristinsdóttir, 2008).

Cognitivism is the learning involved in building associations established through continuity and repetition. In laymen’s speak, this is learning through memorization. There are two aspe...

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...gn & Learning Theory. Retrieved from University of Saskatchewan: http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htm

Smith, M. (2011, December 01). Andragogy. Retrieved from The Encyclopaedia of Informal Education: http://www.infed.org/lifelonglearning/b-andra.htm

Smith, M. K. (2002). Malcolm Knowles, Informal Adult Education, Self-direction and Andragogy. Retrieved from The Encyclopedia of Informal Education: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-knowl.htm

Unknown, M. (2012, March 21). Instructional Learning Theory. Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_theory_(education)

Unknown, M. (2012, March 17). Pedagogy. Retrieved March 16, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedagogy

Wang, V. (2011). Pedagogical and Andragogical Teaching and Learning with Information Communication Technologies. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

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